Console Corner: Saddling up for Le Tour 2016

Damien Lucas

If you thought it would be weird when rugby was first made into a video game, then how about cycling.

While actually riding a bike at high speeds is exhilarating, riding one on a console is a different experience altogether.

We are about to find out whether the game can capture some of that excitement after an official Le Tour de France 2016 videogame was confirmed for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Cycling lovers and enthusiasts of the Grande Boucle will have the opportunity to don their favourite team’s jersey and join the ranks of the Tour’s greatest cyclists when the console edition arrives next month.

And the first screenshots from Le Tour de France 2016, showcasing a few of the peloton of new features featured in the game, have been released this week.

In Le Tour de France 2016 for consoles, you get to play as the greatest champions seeking to wear the yellow jersey in the 21 stages of the 2016 Tour, and in other big competitions such as the Criterium International or the Dauphiné.

Le Tour de France 2016 screenshots

You will guide your rider through the heart of the race, choosing the best trajectory and making the best tactical decisions as you attack, sprint, and counter-attack to get the better of your opponents.

Decide to hit the road alone, challenge your friends or play cooperative on the same screen.

This year, gamers will experience even more realistic stages thanks to enhanced graphics that bring the new route to life as you run by the Mont Saint-Michel, the Mont Ventoux and a big final on the Champs Elysées.

The Challenge mode, that puts your descent skills to the test, is now multiplayer, while the Pro Team, in which you build your team over several seasons, benefits from many improvements and from a brand new sponsor and objective system.

Sprint lovers can now “throw their bikes” and win precious inches in order to be the first to cross the line

Damien Lucas, games columnist

Finally, sprint lovers can now “throw their bikes” and win precious inches in order to be the first to cross the line.